C is for Comfort We all feel safer within the confines of our comfort zone. The risk we feel when moving outside of them can make it difficult to push forward and discover new opportunities. It is important that we acknowledge the power they hold over us and find ways to challenge them. There are simple ways we can learn to push outside of our comforts zones: From infants, we have naturally pushed outside of our comforts zones. It is something that, as adults, can be retrained. Simply understanding where you are in your comforts zone when making decisions is the first step. This requires personal reflection. Remember the mind is more powerful than the body. The mind will give up long before the body does. It holds a huge amount of power over us. We can learn to go beyond our safe place by considering what decisions are in our comfort zone and asking ourselves, ‘What is that next step?’. Little by little, we can move forward and into more exciting and profitable territory. D is for Decisions The decisions we make determine our personal success and that of our business. They are key to our ability to move forward, to challenge ourselves and to discover greater ways to profit. Understanding why we make decisions is incredibly important as a powerful tool for development. Some key takeaways are: Focus on the things that are important. Be aware of biases and how they are influencing your decision making. Question where you are in your comfort zone. Understanding...

At Brand Impact, we are always looking for ways we can develop our thinking and evolve our business practices. We would like to share some of the insights and knowledge that has enabled us to grow as a business and as individuals. This is our brief ABCD guide to decision making, understanding why we make certain decisions, and how to move beyond the barriers to finding that fresh approach. A is for Awareness Ensuring that we make the best decisions for our companies’ can be difficult, especially in a world where the demands on businesses are ever changing. Our awareness of how to approach problems is greatly inhibited by our lack of understanding of why we do the things we do. To become better decision-makers, it is important that we appreciate and understand our level of awareness and the power of the subconscious mind. We can become more aware of our actions by remembering the following. Reflecting less and noticing more. This means spending less time looking back and more time considering the here and now. Choosing where to focus our efforts and diligently pursuing the associated goals. Keeping track of those goals and holding ourselves accountable regarding their achievement. Ask others to hold you accountable for achieving the goals you have set. Our own memories are self-editing devices that change over time. A person you trust is an invaluable asset when it comes to remaining on course and on target. B is for Bias We all suffer from certain natural biases when it comes to making decisions. These are...

Set a Budget By defining and making your budget clear from the beginning you and your promotional partner will have a smooth start. They will know what can and cannot be achieved. A small budget does not mean that your campaign will not go off with a bang. With the right idea and strategy, you can hit the mark no matter the spend. As we say, nothing stimulates creativity like a good constraint. You’re Valuable and You Show It A promotional campaign is a way for you to show your clients and prospective clients your worth. It should make the added value that you bring to them highly apparent and push them into giving you their business. Think about how the products and campaign can represent your service offerings powerfully and effectively. Quality Speaks for Your Brand As with any service or product the cheapest option is not always the right one. A promotional campaign represents your brand. It might be the first interaction with a potential client. A wise idea is to check out company testimonials as part of your research. Other key considerations are design and logo management. Not all suppliers will have the means to deliver high-quality versions of your logo or scale them to fit any purpose. Poor quality image representation is often a result of a lack of capability in this area. Make sure your promotional product speaks for the quality of your brand. What Supplier Should You Choose? Think about what supplier will present your brand in the best light and provide the...

Building an Impacting Promotional Campaign:Part 1 Branded merchandise is an extremely powerful tool in achieving your business goals. However, to truly make an impact for your brand with your promotional activities there are many elements to consider before pushing forward. To help you get the most out of your promotional campaigns we have put together a brief guide. With these factors and questions in mind, you will be able to deliver a knockout campaign that will enable you to punch harder than your competitors. What is the Objective? This should always be the first step when it comes to planning any promotional activity. Ask yourself ‘What am I trying to achieve?’. Are you looking to support and strengthen your corporate identity? Are you trying to raise brand recognition? Is the aim to retain your clients? Perhaps you are looking for another means to drive website traffic? Whatever your objective, nail it down and keep it in mind at all times. This will inform the direction and execution of your campaign. Think Thematically By thinking thematically, you will discover a solution that is right and relevant for your brand. Think about the message you are sending the target audience. Ask what products fit with that message and the nature of your business. If the core of your business is IT solutions, bespoke mouse mats with wrist rests could draw attention to how you can help your clients. A brewery looking to get their products into more bars could send out branded bar blade bottle openers. Promotional merchandise is also an opportunity to show that you...